On 26 September 2013, the UN Security Council adopted its first ever resolution on small arms and light weapons (SALW) with 14 votes in favor and 1 abstention (Russia). Among other things, the resolution recognizes the interrelationship between small arms and light weapons, women, peace and security, and human rights. Several of its paragraphs deal with women’s participation in small arms-related decision-making or with the link between small arms and gender-based violence. However, it must be noted that the top sellers of arms are represent by the permanent members of the UN Security Council. The policies of arms exporters are incongruent and contradictory, and often unquestioned. Read the full